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Bishop Kenny High School Volume 66 | Issue 1 Jacksonville, Fla. BKToday.org
Opinion
3 Dominic Allmond 4 New honor societies 4 School safety 5 Alumni basketball game 6 New teachers
10 Max’s Corner 11 Hello, Gorgeous 14 Shelters vs. breeders 15 Since You Asked... 17 Kenny Kupid 18 Minorities in Hollywood
8 Aretha Franklin 12 Social media
A&E
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20 Kenny Kravings 21 Rom-com movie review
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22 Cross country trip 23 Male cheerleaders 24 Student section
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The Shield is a member of FSPA. It is published six times a year by journalism students at Bishop Kenny High School 1055 Kingman Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 32207 phone: (904) 265-9390 fax: (904) 398-5728 The policy of The Shield is to provide a forum for student expression. If you are interested in advertising in The Shield, please email newspaper@bishopkenny.org for more information.
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Sports
Editor-in-Chief Emily Willis Design & Layout Editor Franchesca Peralta Managing Editor Max Montana Business Manager Niah Aleger Web Manager Megan Yates News Editor Hailey Farah Features Editor Julia Rodriguez Opinion Editor Emily Willis Arts & Entertainment Editor Franchesca Peralta Sports Editor Max Montana
17 Graphic by Destiny Tran
Feature
Graphic by Destiny Tran
News
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Staff Reporters Rita Albert Kaitlyn Bateh Dailey Jackson Rachel Lechwar Katie Loberger Reilly Nance Tara Shear Mary Shoemaker Destiny Tran Emily Yalch Adviser Jessica Durbin Follow The Shield on Twitter and Online: @bkhs_newspaper www.bktoday.org
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In Memoriam: Dominic Michael Byron Allmond 2001 - 2018
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unior Dominic Allmond passed away after being involved in a car accident on J. Turner Butler Boulevard on Friday, August 24 on his way home from a football game. Allmond was 17 at the time. Allmond had played for the varsity basketball team since he was a freshman and played for the Florida Sports Association Elite team. He had dreams of playing college basketball and had received offers from multiple schools, including the University of North Florida. Bishop Kenny held a school-wide Mass in Allmond’s honor on Monday, August 27. In October 2017, Allmond tweeted out, “Life is short, live it.” This is a saying he lived by every day. “He was such a kind and understanding person,” junior Lauren Stevens said. “He loved everyone and everyone loved him.” According to loved ones, he loved having fun and making people smile, leaving a legacy of optimism and making
Mary Shoemaker | Staff Reporter
an impact on teachers and students alike. “Dom was one of those special kids,” science teacher Stephanie Merrill said. “His open smile and positive outlook made him a joy to teach… and to just be around. In his time here at Kenny he touched so many lives; he will be dearly missed.” A l l m o n d ’s funeral took place on September 6 at his home parish of St. Paul’s Catholic Church. On Monday, September 10, the Allmond family shared an open letter with the Bishop Kenny community. The letter expressed and outpouring of love and gratitude for the support they received. “We are blessed to have 17 years of memories of Dom that will last our lifetime,” the Allmond family wrote. “The road ahead may feel like a long one, so please continue to reach out and give yourselves the same comfort that you have given to our family through your friends, family, school, and church.”
News
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New honor societies recognize student achievement in science, social studies Kaitlyn Bateh | Staff Reporter
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dministration approved a Rho Kappa Honor Society chapter and a Science National Honor Society (SNHS) chapter for Bishop Kenny last spring. According to the student handbook, these societies were created to honor students for their academic abilities in the fields of social studies and science. To join Rho Kappa, students must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA, complete two social studies courses, maintain an A average in both courses and have been a student at Bishop Kenny for at least one semester. One must also be a member of the History Club to obtain membership in Rho Kappa. To be a part of SNHS, students are required to complete three semesters of a science class with an A average. One must maintain a 3.5 GPA and active SNHS members must be enrolled in at least one Honors or AP science class during their sophomore, junior and
senior years. Once inducted, a student must maintain a B average in the science course they are taking in order to stay in SNHS. Inductees must also earn four service hours by working at the “Northeast Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair” or “STEAM Day at BK.” Another way to earn hours is to tutor students who need help in their science classes. “An honors society is reviewed by the Academic Team,” Academic Dean Michael Broach said. “We look at it from an academic standpoint.” The Academic team reviews the opportunities these societies give to students and come to an informed decision whether the chapter should be approved or not. After the honor society is approved by the Academic Team, Vice Principal Vincent Saladino and Activities Coordinator Sireen Bateh decide who will sponsor the societies. The sponsor will then plan and seek approval for all
on and off-campus activities. Rho Kappa is affiliated with the History Club, sponsored by history teacher Lauren Mosley. SNHS is connected to Science Club, sponsored by science teacher Vicki Schmitt. Mosley proposed the idea to create a Rho Kappa society chapter at Bishop Kenny as an opportunity for students. “I really love history and I feel like it should be more represented at Kenny," said Mosley. “We wanted a way to recognize students who had outstanding grades in social studies.” Both honor societies, although different in discipline, were created with the high-achieving student in mind, in the hopes that they see even more success in their academic career. “Having this affiliation will serve as an accolade when they apply to competitive colleges and universities,” said Schmitt. “These students are the vanguard for STEM explorations in the future.”
Shut the Front Door!
School takes new safety measures while improving existing ones Katie Loberger | Staff Reporter
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ecent gun violence in Parkland and around the country has led Bishop Kenny to make changes to ensure the safety of all students. There were 23 school shootings within the first five months of 2018, according to Cable News Network. That number causes concern among parents and administrators at schools across the country and pushing them to improve security measures. Additions to Bishop Kenny include the installation of doors leading into the 100 building and locking the gates on the sides of the 500 and 600 building. Furthermore, the school partners with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and
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always has an officer on campus. Administration always reevaluates safety after violent events. “We are an open campus; it was important to change up how people move on campus,” vice principal Vincent Saladino said. Other changes enacted include locking all classroom doors throughout the school day and after school. Also, the gates on the back sides of the 500 and 600 building are locked and an alarm will sound if a person tries to get into school. The aforementioned doors located at the entrance of the 100 building, were installed during the summer to ensure safety in the 100 building after
being open and allowing anyone to walk through. There are more adjustments to the doors to come. “There is the potential of changing in the hall passes to proxy cards,” Saladino said. Proxy cards look similar to the student ID badges except they are all white. These new hall passes would be able to open the doors so they can stay remain locked throughout the school day. The proxy cards provide an added level of safety because the doors could remain locked all day; currently, the doors remain unlocked during the school day.
September 2018
News
Alumni basketball players reunite to support former coach Rachel Lechwar | Staff Reporter
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Photo by Rachel Lechwar
ishop Kenny basketball alumni Kujawa is known for encouraging will lace up their high tops and players when they made a mistake and come back to the John A. Baldwin pushing for them to always play hard. gymnasium for a game Thanksgiving weekend. For the past five years, this annual event has brought back players from the 1980’s to the class of 2017 onto the same court. The tournament serves as a fundraiser for Bruce Kujawa, an assistant coach who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a rare disease in which the immune system attacks protective nerve coatings and interferes with communications The team of 2016 smiles for a picture with Kujawa. between the brain and spinal cord, decreasing mobility and speech, according to the National Kujawa graduated in the class of 1976 Multiple Sclerosis Society. As the illness and came back to take a volunteer began to affect him, his former players position as basketball coach, along with came together to create For The Bruce, public address announcer, assistant in an organization devoted to Kujawa’s the weight room and a mentor to players. ongoing nursing care. “It’s very humbling and rewarding “I thought about all the stuff that for me to see that I must have made a Bruce had done for us back when we difference in those players’ lives,” Kujawa were at school, even after school... and said. I thought, how can I help this guy?” For As his MS grew progressively worse, The Bruce founder Alan Helquist said. his mobility decreased and he was no
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longer able to serve as an assistant coach. Today, Kujawa is confined to a wheelchair but he is still able to attend the alumni games to see some of his former players. “As difficult a time he has been through, how positively he has been handling it has been amazing,” varsity boys basketball coach Jerry Buckley said. Buckley coached JV basketball at the same time Kujawa helped with varsity. He is involved as a supporter of the organization as well as a referee for the alumni basketball game. Since its inception, the basketball games have raised a total of $20,000, most of which has funded a certified nursing assistant to assist in Kujawa’s care. This event, though, is not only meant for Kujawa, but also for the players that return. “I think a lot of guys come to see each other and relive the old memories they had together,” Buckley said. “It’s been a great event and it also benefits Bruce and his healthcare. The guys have a lot to be proud of.”
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September 2018
News
Out With the Old, In With the New New teachers arrive at Bishop Kenny this school year
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Dailey Jackson | Staff Reporter
ew faculty members joined the staff this school year including nine new teachers. The teachers provided new expertise in fields such as chemistry, algebra, religion and pre-calculus. Many of these new teachers have previous teaching experience at middle schools and high schools around the country.
Collin Clark
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ollin Clark was born in Las Vegas but was called to the shores of Florida, where he graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Before teaching, Clark played trombone and toured around the world with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp. Before coming to Bishop Kenny, Clark taught at Union County High School and Union County Middle School in Gainesville. Clark was attracted to the Christian atmosphere at Bishop Kenny and the location of the school.
Cmrd. Brian Morrill
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ommander Brian Morrill is the Senior Naval Science Instructor for the BKHS NJROTC Unit here at Bishop Kenny. After working for 30 years as a Naval Aviator and Foreign Area Officer, he retired and decided to apply at Kenny to have an impact on today’s world. “My way of trying to do something, is to influence young people with Christian values, mainly Catholic values, and this particular job allows me to follow that, said Morrill. He has three children, all of which who have been through, or are currently enrolled in Bishop Kenny. He is very excited and is looking forward to this school year.
Carla Chin
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arla Chin is the new Marketing and Advancement Coordinator at Bishop Kenny. Chin was very involved in the STEM program while she worked as a middle school teacher at San Jose Catholic School for 10 years. She was also apart of the Honeywell training with NASA as an Advanced Educator. She currently has two children enrolled at Bishop Kenny and has had two children graduate with the class of 2022.
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Patrycja Puiu
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atrycja Puiu was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and recently moved to Jacksonville. “I used to teach in Michigan, at a school called Western High School,” Puiu said, who now teaches Chemistry and Chemistry Honors. Puiu earned her degree in secondary education at Wayne State University in 2014 and has taught ever since. She moved around Michigan, teaching at different middle and high schools until her husband’s job relocated them from Ann Arbor to the beaches of Jacksonville, Florida.
David Dougherty
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avid Dougherty was born in Pennsylvania and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned his degree in health and physical education and a master’s in educational leadership. He has experience in many different sports through his years of playing soccer in college and being a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles. “When I walked on the campus, I just thought it felt right,” said Dougherty. He currently teaches Health and Fitness.
Thomas Clark
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homas Clark currently teaches Algebra 2 Honors, AP Computer Science Principals, and AP Computer Science A at Bishop Kenny. Clark was born in Connecticut and moved to Japan when he was two. He later studied computer science at Princeton University and minored in Linguistics and Russian. This is his first year teaching; he is currently enrolled in the Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellowship Program through Notre Dame while earning his Master’s in Education.
Iciar Ocariz-Elsen
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ciar Ocariz-Elsen teaches Religion 1, and this is her first year teaching in a school setting. After earning her master’s in theology at Notre Dame University, she joined their Echo Graduate Service Program, which allowed her to do apprentice work during the school year at various Catholic parishes and schools. After doing work at San Jose Parish during her two years in the program, she applied to be a teacher at Bishop Kenny. “It seemed like a wonderful school with a great community and a very good Catholic identity, and, as a religion teacher, that’s important to me,” Ocariz said.
Stephanie Jaeger
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tephanie Jaeger was born in Arkansas and has lived in various different states until settling in Florida to earn her degree in secondary math education. Jaeger teaches Algebra 1, Honors Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus and has a son who will graduate in the class of 2022. “My husband went here, my brother-in-law went here, my sister-inlaw went here, so it was a family tradition kind of thing,” Jaeger said, explaining her deep roots with Bishop Kenny.
Jennifer Richardson
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ennifer Richardson has worked in many different positions around Baker County, including being a science teacher, math teacher, and guidance counselor. At Bishop Kenny she teaches Applied Communications 1 and 2, which is part of the Learning Resource Program. Richardson has a bachelor’s degree in middle grades math and science, a master’s degree in science education, and an exceptional student education (ESE) certificate.
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Emily Willis | Editor-in-Chief
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Graphic by Niah Aleger
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Remembering the life, legacy of Aretha Franklin September 2018
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idely regarded as “The Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Having performed countless concerts in her lifetime, Franklin gave her final performance on Nov. 7, 2017 at Elton John’s 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Selling more than 75,000,000 records throughout her career and earning 18 Grammy awards, Franklin will be remembered for opening the door for African-American women in the music industry. “Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade— our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect,” former first lady Michelle Obama said in a statement regarding Franklin’s death. Born in 1942, Franklin showed an interest in singing from an early age. At the age of 10, she sang solo music pieces at New Bethel Church in Detroit where her father, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, was a preacher. He brought her along on his “gospel caravan” church tours. Her talent was recognized, and she was soon signed to JVB Records, releasing her debut album, “Songs of Faith,” in 1956. Her popularity flourished in the early ‘60s, particularly after her cover of Otis Redding’s song, “Respect,” and her own song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Adele “River Lea" “Rumor Has It” “Love In The Dark”
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Throughout the rest of the 20 century, her career continued to grow. She performed at civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial service in 1968. In 1994, she received the Grammy award for lifetime achievement, which is presented to performers who, “made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording,” according to The Recording Academy. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by George W. Bush. She had collaborated with multiple artists since
“She was an icon commanding recognition of the struggle that AfricanAmericans have experienced.” then, including Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie and had been sampled in music by singers such as Kanye West and Alicia Keys. On Aug. 16, Franklin’s family issued a statement regarding her death: “In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children,
grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.” Franklin’s official cause of death was named advanced pancreatic cancer, which she lived with for eight years. She died in her Detroit home surrounded by family, according to a statement issued by her publicist. Aretha Franklin was a symbol of power for women, black rights and equality. Her career, which took root in the early civil rights movement and continued through the election of the first African-American president, gave hope to minorities who felt as though their battle for equal rights was lost. She was an icon commanding recognition of the struggle that African-Americans have experienced -- a struggle that myself and many of the younger generation today may never grasp. Apart from her music, she fought for civil rights in many other ways, including wearing traditional African clothing on magazine covers, such as “Ebony.” She also bailed wrongly accused black citizens out of jail. “You got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace,” Franklin said in a interview with Jet Magazine in 1970. Her musical brilliance and ardent voice will leave listeners speechless for years to come. The woman who taught me how to spell “respect,” the embodiment of soul and heroine of many left a legacy never to be forgotten.
Beyonce “I Was Here” “Love on Top” “Irreplaceable”
Jennifer Hudson “I Am Changing” “I Still Love You” “Spotlight”
Ray Charles “Hit the Road, Jack” “I Got A Woman” “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
Amy Winehouse “Rehab” “Our Day Will Come” “No Greater Love”
Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” “I Have Nothing” “I Will Always Love You”
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Opinion
A contradictory suggestion to have a successful school year
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s the dawn of a new school year emerges, let us remember one essential lesson: to aim low. I’m not talking about the kind of low where you trudge to school and struggle to stay awake in class only to come home and indulge in a nap and a few episodes of “The Office” before calling it a day. Rather, the type of low I am referring to is a series of incremental, manageable tasks that even you (yes, you!) can accomplish with flying colors. Instead of staring down a list of endless projects to do and daunting tests to study for, make a planner chockfull of small steps. For myself, making my bed in the morning, creating flash cards for quizzes a couple of days in advance and setting aside ten minutes to pray in the morning and at night became habitual tasks that I could accomplish without a semblance of stress. Almost as important, remember to sprinkle in blissful moments for yourself throughout the day, which can include a savory Reese’s peanut butter cup, a twentyminute power nap or simply to pet your dog for a few seconds. Although these steps sound trivial, we as human beings, especially adolescents, are habitual creatures and must develop good habits if we are to be responsible young adults. With every temptation around us in this modern world, there are a million reasons why we should not balance our time between faith, family, school and friends effectively. However, once these manageable habits take root in you, these grand responsibilities we are called to tend to proficiently will not seem nearly as hard or tedious. It takes 66 days to create a habit, according to researchers at the University College London. This might seem like a lifetime for us adolescents, but even small habits can reap unimagined rewards if they are consistently stuck to and done with the
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Max Montana | Managing Editor
right intentions. For example, I found that reading for a few minutes in my spare time every day allowed me to improve my diction to the point of effectively articulating an argument during a Stanton Roundtable Debate, which is an event at Stanton High School that brings together students from all over Northeast Florida to speak about topical political issues, in front of 70 people. Now, as a Catholic school student since kindergarten, I’ve heard the Golden Rule probably more times than my own name:“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12).” As familiar as this is to the vast majority of people at Bishop Kenny, we tend to forget that it is a two-sided coin. We are called to treat ourselves as well as we can picture ourselves treating someone in need. In a modern-day equivalent of
the parable of the Good Samaritan, we probably picture ourselves as that third person who walks by the beaten man and saves him from his heart-wrenching agony. Yet, we fail to be the hero of our own spiritual, familial, academic and social well-being in the same way that we envision ourselves being to another. By treating ourselves to a full schedule of accomplishable tasks and blissful breaks, we accept the reality of existence by being the most responsible and most kind to ourselves as we can be and, in turn, others. We are called to do great things in this life, but we need to accept the right values and develop the right habits before we can realize them. So, instead of either blindly walking into a new school year or abstractly wanting to take on the world, aim low and you will go high.
Can you guess this Jacksonville location? Emily Willis | Editor-in-Chief
Standing aside this structure, located atop St. John’s Bluff, allows one to view the eastern shoreline of the St. John’s River, as well as Mayport Naval Station and the Atlantic Ocean. The column bears the coat of arms of King Charles IX of France, and was erected in 1926 in commemoration of when France attempted to claim Florida as its own in 1526. Artwork by Sydney Donath
September 2018
Opinion
Five makeup products I need to survive Julia Rodriguez | Features Editor
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buildable coverage and does not feel heavy no matter how many layers you add on. Since I do not include concealer, buildable coverage is key. It allows me to put multiple layers on areas like my undereyes (to conceal the evidence of how little sleep I got the night before). I also layer the foundation on top of acne to blur it out. I choose to leave out primer because I have found that many
Graphic by Julia Rodriguez
very morning before school, it always seems like I don’t have time or energy to do a full face of makeup. When it comes to everyday makeup, I need something quick and simple because I’m running short on time and also because I enjoy a more natural look for school and work. Depending on if I’m trying to achieve a sun-kissed glow or an “I woke up like this” look, I’ll use additional products, but these five products are the alternative I’ve created to still feel beautiful for half the time and less than half the products. The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is moisturize. Moisturizing when you roll out of bed is a definite to ensure that your skin has time to soak in the good oils. I don’t include it in the five products because to me it’s simple skincare and hygiene. I consider this to be the most important step of a morning routine. Whenever you do your makeup, make sure you have moisturized skin. Even if your skin tends to be more oily throughout the day, a moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated and lively with good oils. I enjoy Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel-cream, priced at $19.99, for extra dry skin.* My face tends to get very oily throughout the day, but when I wake up in the morning it is super dry due to an acne topical cream I use. This moisturizer soaks into my skin completely and revitalizes it after a long night. The cosmetic I start my routine with is foundation. I have recently found that the Too Faced Born This Way foundation, which is a bit pricey at $39.00 for 1 fluid ounce, is great for school. It has
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primers do not help with longevity and that simply moisturizing is enough for my skin. Next, I use loose powder to set my face. The best way I have found to do so is patting it into my face with a damp beauty sponge. It helps pack in the powder to keep oil at bay longer. My third product is an eyebrow pencil. I personally have sparse eyebrows with a good shape, so I’m simply filling them in. This step is unnecessary if you have full brows and like their shape. An inexpensive option for brows that I use is the NYX Precision Brow Pencil which costs $9.99, which helps me fill in my brows fast on mornings when I’m in a rush. The fourth product I reach for is a
contour palette, and I use Anastasia Beverly Hills powder contour kit for $40.00. When you put foundation on, it creates a smooth canvas for you to work on but it also cancels out some of the natural contours of your face. Therefore, you need to add shadows where they would normally be: under your cheekbones, your temples and jawline. Every face shape is different, so this step is unique to each person. I also contour my nose to give it a smaller appearance. You can also use powder contour shades (and blush, actually) as eyeshadow. However, contour shades are often dark, so make sure to use a light hand if you choose to use them as eyeshadow. The last product I use before rushing out the door is mascara. Mascara emphasizes the eyes and draws attention to them. A brown mascara will create a more natural look, but since I consider my eyes to be my best facial feature, I use a black mascara to bring focus to them. Clinique Chubby Lash for $19.99, is one of my all-time favorite mascaras, but I don’t always have the money for it. So on the hunt for the best bargain mascara, I found L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black mascara for $7.99. In the year that I have been using it, this mascara has never clumped on my lashes; it enhances them. The brush style helps create the illusion of super full, fluttery lashes. Even if you love makeup and doing a full glam look, sometimes time constraints prevent it. A simple look with only a few products will guarantee you still look glamorous and stylish without taking too much time. *All prices from Ulta.com
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Students share their passions, talents through public social media accounts Reilly Nance | Staff Reporter
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t is easier now than it has ever been to pursue one’s passion. Students who may have previously felt like there was no place to express themselves or share their work now have a plethora of social media platforms to choose from. Many students at Bishop Kenny have chosen to use Instagram to display their talents and ideas.
Health and Happiness
Senior Abigail St. John became interested in health and fitness as a freshman and since then has switched to a vegan diet and incorporated exercise into her everyday life. After seeing the positive effects of these changes, she decided to share these lifechanging tips with others. This decision began her Instagram journey. St. John shares vegan recipes and fitness advice along with spreading a positive message. “It’s definitely not easy but I love it too much to give up!” St. John said. Planning out her weeks ahead of time in a journal has proven to be the most effective way for her to stay organized. “I plan out the videos I want to film and when, plan out specific days to create recipes and do little photo shoots of them, and since I also have fitness
goals I aim to make that a part of the works too!” St. John said. Many of St. John’s followers are Bishop Kenny students. At the very start of her account, she worried about what classmates might think of her content and profile. “I did not tell anyone about it for four months but more and more friends heard about it and then it turned into me just letting everyone know!” St. John said. As time went on, she became more confident in her account and the content she created. She receives questions from students daily about health, fitness, spirituality and positivity tips. This passion proved to be more important than any judgment from her peers. Instead, St. John has decided to focus on the large number of people who support her.
“It’s definitely not easy but I love it too much to give up!”
Photos courtesy of Abigail St. John
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September 2018
Making Music Senior Lola Martin, who has been singing her whole life, recently decided to share her talent with others. Not only did this mean starting to sing at her youth group, but also starting a public Instagram page to share videos of songs she sings. For many years, she kept her singing to herself. With musical influence from her family and her passion for singing, she decided to take this talent more seriously. “In teaching myself guitar I ended up ‘perfecting’ my singing voice,” Martin said. Once she learned to play guitar, she decided to go outside her comfort zone and start singing in front of others. This decision has led to opportunities for her to lead praise
and worship all around Jacksonville, singing and playing guitar for her youth group weekly. As a result of using her voice to praise God, her faith has also grown. “Music is definitely one of the biggest ways in w h i c h I really understand my faith and the things and struggles I go t h r o u g h ,” Martin said. T h e ability to articulate her feelings and beliefs through a song is one of the main reasons she enjoys to sing. Martin credits her strong faith in God to her singing and made a point to say that music, especially Christian music, has been a blessing to her.
“Music is definitely one of the biggest ways in which I really understand my faith and the things and struggles I go through.”
Photos courtesy of Lola Martin
Picture Perfect Photography and photo editing is a massive trend that has been circulating the internet. Junior Anna Larmoyeux has a love for photography and photo editing that commenced in her sophomore journalism class. “We did a lot of photography on the iPad but I really wanted to branch out and try it with a real camera, and then I got hooked,” Larmoyeux said. After taking thousands of photos, she wanted a place to exhibit her work, so she started an Instagram account dedicated to her photography. Here, she posts portraits she’s shot of classmates, landscape photos of
places that capture her attention and edits she has made. “Usually anytime I am in the car I always look out the window and keep my eyes out for cute local restaurants or locations for my next shoots,” Larmoyeux said. So far, she has taken pictures at locations such as Ponte Vedra Beach, The Cummer Art Museum and the Jacksonville Riverwalk. Whether it be health, singing or photography, these teens have found a way to publicize and share their talents and passions with the world.
“Usually anytime I am in the car I always look out the window and keep my eyes out for cute local restaurants or locations for my next shoots.”
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Photos courtesy of Anna Larmoyeux
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Opinion
Finding Y
ur New Fur-ever Friend
Should you adopt from a shelter or a breeder? Emily Willis | Editor-in-Chief
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t is time. You are ready to hear the clicks bred in atrocious conditions. Puppy and clacks of little toenails on wood mills breed dogs for the cash gain, with in the night, ready to run your hands no respect for the animal’s well-being. through fur, as well as sweep it up from There can be anywhere from 10 to 1,000 the corners of your house. You are ready dogs kept in a single puppy mill at once, to adopt a puppy! Now, where to start? but it is almost impossible to know the It is a question that people ponder true average since so many puppy mills before bringing a new canine companion are unlicensed. There are an estimated into their home: should I adopt from a shelter, or buy from a pet store or breeder? There are pros and cons to both situations. However, the benefits of adopting from a shelter outweigh the advantages of buying from a breeder. Very few can say that they are unmoved to adopt a puppy after they see the infamous commercial with Sarah McLachlan singing “Angel.” The images of neglected cats and dogs staring at you through the cages can bring one to 10,000 puppy mills in the United tears. An estimated 1.2 million canines States alone, and fewer than 3,000 are are euthanized in shelters every year, monitored by the USDA. Inspections are according to The Puppy Mill Project. rare, even in the case of USDA-issued Some claim that animals from shelters licensees. Kept in overcrowded pens, are unpredictable and have health or denied mental or physical stimulation, behavioral issues. However, many shelter these dogs are rarely taken out of their pets have been trained and housebroken cages, except to be bred. Often, female in their previous homes. All pets at the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS), for instance, are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated before being adopted. “Many people say that the best thing about adopting a pet from a shelter is that you are giving that pet a second chance, and providing more room for other pets in need,” JHS Education and Outreach Manager We adopted our family dog, Bailey, eight years ago. Lindsay Layendecker said. “JHS encourages everyone to dogs that are kept only for breeding can consider adoption and always do your only have litters until they are around research before purchasing a pet.” seven years old, and in many cases, Consider that many pet stores are they are killed when they reach this age, stocked with puppies who have been according to the International Society for Photo by Emily Willis
“JHS encourages everyone to consider adoption and always do your research before purchasing a pet.”
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Animal Rights (ISAR). Approximately 90% of dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills, according to ISAR. It is important to understand the practice of puppy mills so you do not unknowingly support them, and there are several red flags. If an organization seems to always have puppies available or is selling in large numbers, it is likely an overcrowded puppy mill. Because these breeders do not prioritize the health and safety of the animals, they will not inquire about your home environment, such as whether you have a fenced yard. A puppy should never be sold before it is eight weeks old, as they are not supposed to be separated from their mother before then. Separation from the mother in the first months of a puppy’s life can lead to aggressive, or even shy behaviors. There are, of course, ethical breeders who genuinely care about their animals’ adoptive families, and there are certain benefits to buying from a breeder. You would know the dog’s exact breed and family history, such as inherited genetic diseases. You will be able to mold your puppy into your perfect pet with positive training. This comes at a cost: cleaning up accidents, chewed up table corners, and whining at bedtime. Finally, breeders typically charge anywhere from $500 to $3000 for a puppy, and you will also be responsible for all of the dog’s veterinary costs. Ultimately, shelter dogs provide love and gratitude unlike any other. By adopting from a shelter, you are not only saving the life of your new family pet-- a space opens up at the shelter for another dog to be rescued.
September 2018
Opinion
Since You Asked... Q
“I want to make some new friends, but I am shy when I talk to new people. How can I overcome that and make new friends?” - Tyler Not-So-Swift
Dailey Jackson | Staff Reporter
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huge part of the high school experience is about meeting people and making new friends, but do not be ashamed if you find it a daunting task. Entering into a new place with hundreds of people you have never met before can be a nerve-racking and emotionally-draining experience. Remembering names and picking lunch tables can add to the stress of your already busy schedule. Luckily, there are many different ways to not only meet new people, but also to make some great experiences while doing it.
1. Join clubs or sports teams.
Even though this may seem obvious, it is an important step to meeting new people. Not only are you going directly to the source by joining a club where people are encouraged to socialize, but clubs offer a way to experience the things you truly love! Bishop Kenny offers a huge range of activities like Science Club, Red and White Girls, German Club, Catholic Athletes for Christ, to name a few. You can earn service hours, participate in competitions and learn more about different cultures just by joining. Being on a freshman or junior varsity sports team can also be a fulfilling experience that motivates you and your teammates to work together to improve your skills and earn a spot on varsity. By participating in sports and clubs you can relate to the people around you who are all working towards the same goal. If you are still lost for words once you have joined one of these extracurricular
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activities, talk to someone about your newfound common interest. For example, if you have just joined the Medical Career Club, ask someone what they plan to be when they grow up, or what medical field they find most interesting. Once they see that you have made an effort to talk about something they love, they may do the same.
2. Pay attention in class.
Of course, everyone should be listening to his or her teacher during a lecture (even if it is a three-day lecture on the life of Thomas Jefferson and his effect on the Democratic-Republican Party during the Revolutionary War). But listen to the names and look at the faces of your classmates when they get called on or volunteer to answer a difficult question. Names are very powerful. They identify us as a unique person and are used in our everyday conversations. They can be used as a checkpoint in your brain to connect your first impression and recent memories with a new friend. When you know someone’s name, not only does it show the person that you care enough to learn and remember the name but also that you want to get to know the person. When you call someone using their name you demonstrate that the individual is important to you in that moment. A study done by Dennis P. Carmody and Michael Lewis showed that when a person hears his or her own name, four different regions of the brain become activated, including the medial prefrontal cortex, which is
responsible for memory and decision making. Simply remembering someone’s name can light the spark to a brand new friendship. 3. Think about your words. One of the most important parts of a friendship is communication, and knowing what to say before you begin speaking can lead to an enjoyable conversation for everyone involved. First of all, humor is key. Making people laugh releases endorphins, making them feel happy and confident. “These natural peptide chemicals produced in your body interact with receptors in your brain to help you feel focused, less impacted by pain and put you in a better mood,” doctor of natural medicine Dr. Axe said on his website draxe.com. Crack a joke or make a funny observation to raise the positive atmosphere in a conversation. Another thing to talk about is the other person’s passions. If you know they are currently enthralled with “Ready Player One,” ask them what is happening in the book or if they have seen the movie. People feel thrilled when they finally get to discuss what’s on their mind. These two conservation starters can encourage both of you to pay attention and listen to the other person’s wants and interests so you can talk about it later.
4. Be confident.
Everyone, at least once in their life, has been nervous about meeting someone new. The fear that you are going to mess up or say something wrong is totally natural, but don’t let it stop you from trying to make new friends. If it does not work out, that is okay. You are going to meet so many amazing people during high school who are caring and would love to be your friend. If you are trying to socialize with someone else and things seem a little awkward, chances are that the person is just as nervous to be talking to you as you are. Break the awkwardness with a joke or a smile and try not to think about things too much. Remember: your high school experience should be about you succeeding academically and having fun while doing it. Make the most of your time in high school because you can only experience it once!
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September 2018
Opinion
Dear Kenny Kupid,
Okay, here’s the tea... supposedly it’s the year of “shooting your shot,” right? It’s similar to “asking to go steady” but way less effort and money. Nevertheless, I am trash at letting people know how I feel. Hence why I’m here asking you for help. I think the universe knew I’d be too powerful if I wasn’t insecure or was an extrovert. It’s probably for the best… Anyway, there’s this guy who’s cute enough and he’s trying to talk but I
Dear Attention Seeking Senior,
Before helping you, I need to reprimand you. How are you interested in a guy but don’t know what school he goes to? I’m wildly concerned for you! But you didn’t ask for my opinion, you asked for my assistance. Step 1: Figure out where he goes to school as this could be very important. You also need to find out what his GPA is. You are looking for a future husband, not a fling. Have you thought about how you’ll support your future children? That’s only applicable if you plan on being a trophy wife, which seems likely. Step 2: Become the queen of lurking. Look through all of his social media and ask yourself if you would be comfortable with this person forever.
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think I messed it up. Actually, I know I messed it up. He kept complimenting me, but I was playing hard to get (which never works well for me but I still wanted to try it). He has taken some time learning things about me but I still don’t even know what school he goes to. To be honest, I may have only caught feelings because I’m seeking attention. But now we have a streak on Snapchat and sometimes even text. Every now and then, though, he leaves me on read, which
kinda hurts; no one enjoys being ignored — even if it’s just for a minute. The only logical reason is to keep the spark alive, of course. Why else would he leave me on read? So please help me Kenny Kupid!
Is he social, athletic, or beautiful? Remember that you want to give your children the best genes in the game. It’s a mad world, and you want them to live through the survival of the fittest. Step 3: This is not a drill: you have to play a long game to win. You have to play your cards right and think about every alternative response and reaction. People who are unprepared usually end up nowhere. So shoot to score. All guys secretly mess around with your feelings and if they don’t, you have probably put them in the friend zone. Make some power moves because nothing will happen if you don’t initiate the first move. If he obviously tried, then the ball is in your court. Teenage boys have the attention span of a goldfish, so move fast. Step 4: No, but really, if he is wasting your time leave his message on open.
It’ll put him in his place and he will double snap, if he is willing to put his pride aside. Alternative step 4: Find out what month he is born in. This will help to give you clues on how he will react to your approach. Depending on the month, you may have to be more subtle or gentle. You do not want to scare him away. And if he ends up being born in the same month as you, you’ve got a big storm coming, honey. It’s basically like playing chess with your male reflection. If you’re stubborn, he will probably be equally as stubborn. Therefore, no one will ever win the game and I won’t be able to help you.
Sincerely, Attention Seeking Senior
Good luck, Kenny Kupid 17
Minorities Take the
Cracking down on Hollywood’s ongoing struggle to cast minorities as lead roles in films Tara Shear | Staff Reporter
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ollywood, it is 2018. Anybody can hear the term ‘whitewashing’ and instantly give the subject a negative connotation. Why is it, then, that whitewashing has remained a hot topic issue in Hollywood? “We’re seeing that there’s not just a diversity problem in Hollywood; there’s actually an inclusion crisis,” researcher at the University of Southern California Stacy L. Smith said on the topic of minority representation in films during an interview with National Public Radio. A serious issue with whitewashing, other than simple racism, is that minority children grow up hardly ever seeing themselves portrayed as positive characters on screen. This lack of exposure leaves a negative impact, and it is about time that future generations get to grow up seeing people just like them playing main protagonists. In 2016, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite floated around the internet, pinpointing the lack of diversity portrayed in feature films. This controversy began at the Academy Awards due to the observation that all twenty nominees for acting categories, both leads and supporting roles, were white. While there may be plenty of minority characters on screen throughout a movie, those characters tend to be only minor roles: a sidekick
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or downright antagonists of sorts. Why does it seem so easy for Hollywood to cast a black male as a drug dealer, but so much harder to cast that same black male as a superhero? This is why representation is important; it affects the minority audiences subconsciously. “The lack of representation made
“The lack of representation made me feel as if I didn’t exist anywhere in the American dream as seen on American sitcoms." me feel as if I didn’t exist anywhere in the American dream as seen on American sitcoms, as if I didn’t really have a place there. It wasn’t absolutely depressing, but it was kind of disheartening,” junior Anaje Austin said in response to how a lack of lead roles for black people in films affected her as she grew older. When “Black Panther” hit theaters, crowds went wild. Finally, a hero with African roots was playing a role in the
Marvel Universe. Even more outstanding about the film is how the entire cast is black, defying stereotypes across the board. For once, a black cast starred in a hugely successful sci-fi movie, a genre typically dominated by white people playing the lead roles. “Black Panther” does not single handedly fix racism and whitewashing within Hollywood, but it is a step in the right direction as well as hope for the future of minority representation in movies. In mid-August, Netflix released the romantic comedy “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Based on the novel by Jenny Han, main character Lara Jean is of Korean descent. It is no shocker that movies based off of books do not always follow the novel word for word, but casting that lead character as a different ethnicity simply seems unsettling. Still, only one production company wanted to cast Lara Jean as a female of Asian descent, according to Han in her New York Times column. Every other production company wanted to whitewash Lara Jean, making her character inauthentic and silently promoting white supremacy in Hollywood. A tear-jerking, coming-of-age romantic comedy, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” helped raise awareness for the lack of Asian characters playing
September 2018
major roles on screen. Lana Condor, the actress who plays Lara Jean, has reflected on the importance of ethnic representation and how it affects younger viewers. “It’s really important for girls that look like me to see me out there and be like, ‘Oh! I could do that, too!’” Condor stated during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, only proving further how necessary it is that diverse audiences can watch movies and believe that they too can have similar experiences to main characters. “Crazy Rich Asians” is a new blockbuster film starring an Asian cast that adds onto representation of Asian people playing major leads in films, and hopefully this trend of minority representation continues moving forward vigorously. While not typically considered a minority in day-to-day life, women are also seen getting more lead roles as time goes on. Women typically are not
given powerful roles in feature films, but in 2017, “Wonder Woman” left a major impact on the production companies that refuse to cast women as powerful figures. Starring Gal Gadot, the film has been critically acclaimed for the representation of female power. One minority that audiences
“It’s really important for girls that look like me to see me out there and be like, ‘Oh! I could do that, too!’” hardly get to see in theaters are actors with disabilities. Screenwriters Bryan Woods and Scott Beck wanted their thriller “A Quiet Place” to be authentic, casting Millicent Simmonds to play the deaf character of Regan Abbott.
Most production companies would immediately decide to cast a hearing person to play a deaf character, implying that the inclusivity of disabled people in films is not necessary in today’s world. Woods and Beck strived to carry out their ideal of authenticity by casting the deaf Simmonds in the film. Hopefully, Hollywood has begun to receive the message that audiences want to see more diverse characters playing lead roles in their movies. With more and more movies being released and set into production with seemingly diverse casts, this upward trend may finally be here to stay. Optimistically, the days of blackface and yellowface are over, and production companies throughout Hollywood will avoid whitewashing in the future. Bring on the lead roles for black, Asian, Hispanic, disabled, and all other underrepresented populations around the world. It is 2018; it is time.
s d r a w A e i v o M ity
Minor
Hattie McDaniel: First African-American Acadamy award winner for playing Mammie in “Gone With The Wind,” according to "Entertainment Weekly"
Miyoshi Umeki: only Asian American woman to win an Oscar for playing Katsumi in “Sayonara,” according to "April Magazine"
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José Ferrer: first Latino to win an Oscar for “Cyrano de Bergerac,” according to "Huffington Post"
Lupita Nyong’o: first Kenyan to win an Acadamy Award for playing “Patsey” in “Twelve Years a Slave,” according to "The Hollywood Reporter"
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Arts and Entertainment
Kenny Kravings Franchesca Peralta | Design and Layout Editor
The smoothie bowl craze has gone through the roof as teens and health nuts crave the sweet bowl for breakfast, a midday snack or even to just satisfy their sweet tooth craving. To save you the trouble, I went around Jacksonville and taste tested three recommended smoothie bowls from different spots to tell you which place has the best bowl for your buck. Ajeen and Juice 1962 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207 - $7.95 I tried the Açaí Bowl from Ajeen and Juice and it was just the right size for a midday snack to fulfill your after-school craving, because it’s not too small, but also is not so big that it’s overwhelming. I had this bowl with bananas, strawberries and pineapple, with apple juice as my liquid of choice. It was more watery than the other bowls I purchased and had a texture that resembled more of a liquid than the firm açaí bowls from the other two stops. Although the consistency resembled cold soup, the base of the puréed açaí served here had the best taste out of all of the bowls that I tried. It was sweet but not enough to give you a cavity.
Fla Juice and Bowl 2403 3rd St S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 - $9.50 I ordered the Fla Bowl from Fla Juice and Bowl. This bowl was unique to me as its toppings included bee pollen (something that I didn’t even know you could get on food, but you know it bee like that sometimes). The base was made of coconut water, banana, pineapple and blueberries mixed with açaí, the fruit that started this craze, which is a blackish-purple berry that tastes similar to a rich blackberry or raspberry. Along with bee pollen, the rest of the toppings were strawberries, blueberries, bananas, kiwi, coconut flakes and granola. Although I did enjoy this bowl, I am not a big fan of coconut. Despite the fact that I just ordered the regular, I could only finish half of it; partly due to the bowl being a substantial size with many toppings, but also due to my personal dislike of coconut.
Vitality Bowls 1516 3rd St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 - $9.99 I had the Vitality Bowl and I can easily say that this was the best açaí bowl that I have ever had. This bowl included flax seeds, VB Blend (which is made of superfoods like mangosteen, noni, camu camu, moringa, açaí, blueberry and pomegranate), bananas and strawberries blended into the açaí and was topped with granola, honey, strawberries, bananas and goji berries. This was my first taste of a goji berry and it really gave the açaí a sweet taste in every bite. The bowl here is served in a metal bowl and drizzled with honey, which is picturesque for your Snapchat story; there is probably a good chance that you’ve seen it on one of your friend’s before. While this bowl was quite large, you get more than what you pay for. Since this bowl was larger than the Fla Bowl and was only about 50 cents more, I can say that this bowl was a better deal.
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Photos by Franchesca Peralta
September 2018
Arts and Entertainment Netflix original “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” is rom- com you’ll never want to stop watching Rita Albert | Staff Reporter WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
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ased on the New York Times best-selling series of young adult novels by Jenny Han, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a Netflix original film released on August 27 that is already in the social media spotlight. The movie’s storyline centers around a quirky Korean-American teenage girl, Lara Jean Song Covey, who lost her mother at a young age. She lives with her older sister Margot, younger sister Kitty and her father. Whenever Lara Jean has an all-consuming crush that she doesn’t know how to deal with, she writes a letter explaining all her feelings, addresses it and stores it away in a teal blue box given to her by her mother, never to be read again. One day, the letters are mysteriously sent out and Lara Jean’s world gets flipped upside down. Five letters in total were written, one for each boy she ever loved. There was one to Kenny from camp, Lucas from freshman homecoming, John Ambrose from Model UN in fifth grade, Peter Kavinsky from her first kiss in seventh grade and her next door neighbor/long time crush/ sister’s new ex-boyfriend Josh. Stuck in a situation where she does not want Josh to find out that she likes him, she ends up making a deal with Peter Kavinsky — the hottest and most popular guy at school — to fake date. For Peter, it is to make his new ex-girlfriend Gen (who happens to be Lara Jean’s ex best friend from middle school) jealous. With drama from old girlfriends, to video leaks and catching real feelings, this love story jerks at emotions that will leave you feeling attached to the story and in love with love. This series is a personal favorite of mine so I have been waiting for this movie, obsessing over the actors and sneak peaks on social media since they started teasing the movie in July. I even attended a viewing party to celebrate the momentous occasion! My friends and
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I watched the movie back to back four times in a row, and to date I have watched it around 34 times (and counting). I have such an attachment to the characters and the love story that I gradually sob harder and harder as the movie progresses, not just due to sadness, but from the amount of excitement and obsession I have with the story. There were many iconic scenes such as the hot tub scene, the party scene and the ending lacrosse kiss scene. Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship is based on listening to each other which is how they fell for one another, unlike some teen movies in which the characters are more physical and barely talk. It makes their love stronger and more real. While keeping the romantic aspect, the movie also focuses on the familial characteristic that was portrayed in the novel. After their mother died, Margot took on the motherly role because her father is a busy doctor and Lara Jean and Kitty tried to help out as well. After Margot leaves, Lara Jean has the pressure of trying to keep everything organized and as perfectly executed as her sister did. Lara Jean loves her family, they have been her whole life; but she wants something else, something more. Although the movie maintains many elements from the novels including direct quotes, there are major parts left out. One, for example, is that in the book, Peter wanted to do the fake dating ordeal to send a message to his ex-girlfriend that it was over, while in the movie it is to make her jealous. Many fans, myself included, were disappointed that big scenes from the book such as Halloween and the
estate sale were not included in the film, even though they were important in the book. I can see why people may not enjoy the movie if they have read the books, but the key to enjoying the movie would be to go in without any expectations, because if you expect it to be 100 percent like the book, you may feel let down. The actors who play the lead roles of Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Song Covey are Noah Centineo and Lana Condor. Their undeniable chemistry definitely picks up on screen. If you’re wondering where you’ve seen these two before, Noah has been in shows such as “Austin and Ally” and “The Fosters.” He will also star in another upcoming Netflix movie, “Sierra Burgess is a Loser.” Lana has starred in movies such as “Patriots Day” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.” This movie is also a triumphant event for women in the Asian community. The novel was written with an Asian-American lead and ultimately cast as such. The director and author had to search for a production company that would allow for a lead who wasn’t whitewashed. (“Whitewashing” is deliberately choosing to change the ethnicity of the character to white.) The importance of the lead being Asian-American is that it gives women in the community a feeling of belonging and relatability which is uncommon in the rom-com genre. Overall, this movie made me laugh, cry and feel immense joy that my favorite characters were coming to life on the screen. To all the rom-coms I’ve loved before, you can’t compete with this one.
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Sports
Cross country team attends Brevard running camp Mary Shoemaker | Staff Reporter
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hand, is the easiest. It is the costume run to a point called John's Rock. Everyone dresses up in costumes and each grade level has a specific theme.
Photo courtesy of Dinith Mendis
eep beep, beep beep, beep beep. It is 4 a.m. in the middle of the summer. You wake up to the sound of your alarm going off. The first thing that comes to your mind is “why?” Then you remember you have to be on the bus to Brevard in 30 minutes. This was the reality for cross country team runners this summer. Brevard is a distance runners camp that lasts for six days, and each day consists of a morning “shakeout” run, strength training or team building in the afternoons and an evening trail run. Two of the mornings have trail run scheduled, one of which is the hardest run at camp. “It’s called Art Loeb,” senior Dinith Mendis said. “It’s a series of uphill climbs, and if you don’t run to the two mile mark fast enough, you don’t get to run up the rest of the mountain. This is the hardest run because of the uphill climbs and hard terrain, it’s really slippery and filled with rocks and roots.” The second trail run, on the other
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“This run is the easiest because we are running very slow even though it’s tough to go up hill, it’s a team run and each grade has different costumes,” Mendis said. “Once we get to the
Every year before the championship meet, most boys on the XC team shave their heads. The seniors start the ritual by shaving the willing underclassmen’s heads. Before each race, the team participates in a prayer circle. The coaches say a few words and then the seniors start to pray the ‘Hail Mary,’ and at the end everyone yells, “Mary Queen of Victory.” The night before every race day, the teams gather for dinner at someone’s house. They eat dinner, swim and play games like volleyball or basketball.
Photo courtesy of Fred White
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Senior runners pose before square dancing together in Brevard.
top, it’s a really pretty view and you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains.” This run is slower because the whole teams sticks to the pace of the slowest runner; a tradition that emphasizes the team’s strategy of “pack running.” Other traditions the team participates in at camp include the seniors square dancing in the town, challenge courses against other teams and basketball and dodgeball tournaments. “The tournaments are tradition,” junior Jack Pease said. “Basketball is definitely the most hype though.” Cross country has other unique traditions that they take to Brevard too, like the white squirrel jersey. “The name comes from the white squirrels seen in North Carolina,” Pease said. “The jerseys are passed on to people who really encouraged the team, pushed the pace or stayed tough during the run that morning.” Like many sports camps, the strong team bond and memories made at Brevard keep the team coming back for more.
Junior Josh Cooper parttakes in one of the many XC traditions.
September 2018
Sports
Male joins cheerleading team for first time in three years Emily Yalch | Staff Reporter
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he student section roars as a cheerleader is thrown high into the air and tosses red and black bracelets into the stands. The bases catch her as she falls back into their arms. After that, cheers go back and forth from the cheerleaders to the bleachers and back. It is a typical Friday night experience. But one aspect looks a little different this year. In the past decade, there have only been seven male cheerleaders at Bishop Kenny. Junior Jeremy Newman joined the squad and carried on a recently unfulfilled tradition. “Becoming a cheerleader seemed like a great way to get to know everyone at the school and to be more social,” Newman said. Head cheer coach Brooke Johnson has not had the opportunity to work with male cheerleaders in three years. “It’s always exciting to have boys interested in cheerleading,” Johnson said. “Although, it changes some of the dynamics of practice. They don’t do cheers or dances, so unless we are stunting, they watch or do conditioning.” Right now, the male cheerleader is learning how to do coed stunts, which means that he will be able to stunt by himself with one girl on the top. “I do think the team is better with the guys just because we can do more challenging stunts and they bring more character to the team,” junior Karley Dry said. Male cheerleaders are less common than female cheerleaders, although that does not mean that
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they are better or worse. “I think guys haven’t tried out for cheer in a while because they think that it is a sport for girls,” Dry said. “We did many fun things as an all-girl team but we continue to do these things, which proves that it is a team for boys and girls.” In the United States, 97 percent of high school cheerleaders are girls, according to the University of Kentucky. Since it has been three years that there was a boy on the cheer squad, that likely means that none of the girls have cheered with a male teammate before. The senior cheerleaders would have been freshman that year and most likely on Junior Varsity. Coach Johnson has made the males backspots on the team. “We have some very strong girls on the team, but having males helps with hard stunts,” Johnson added. In order for cheer to be done in sync and safely the cheerleaders must trust each other. “It’s going to take some getting used to, but they will help us do harder stunts at games, be louder and hopefully convey leadership and spirit for the crowd!” Johnson said. When it is Friday night once again at Bishop Kenny, the student section will cheer with enthusiasm. Whether male or female, a cheerleader’s energy has the power to impact the fans. Newman now has a role that many young men never take the chance to play.
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Sports
Student section tradition of rowdiness is primed to perpetuate this season Max Montana | Managing Editor
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Photo by Max Montana
he mesmerizing lights drew in the scattered moths, but not the packed-in fans as they focused their attention on the field below. An early September evening showcased a fading sun with the rival Atlantic Coast football team’s shadow stretching across the field closest to the picturesque St. John’s River. As if shot from a canon, the Bishop Kenny Crusaders storm the field, sizing up their prey. The student section became a cacophony of noise as they drowned out the mighty drumline. Although combined with the initial fervor of a home opener, this cluster of Crusaders have had this passion for their football team passed on from one graduating class to the next. The student section dons pink in honor of Dominic Allmond at J. Joseph Parete Field on Aug. 31. The Joe Truss, a graduate of Crusaders lost the game against Atlantic Coast. the class of 2017 and one of the most vocal presences of the student section stipulates some of the As invested as he is in the current student section when he was a senior, traditions Truss passed down, but each season, McBride recognizes that remembers his games in the student chieftain is not one in the same. For high school has to end one day. In section fondly. He perpetuated various example, Truss orchestrated a project his place, McBride recognizes junior chants and traditions, such as the where he acted as a makeshift commentator and former football player Colby infamous ‘I Believe That We Will Win’ for a replica ESPN desk at a basketball Halter as a worthy candidate to rally cheer, which stemmed from U.S. Naval game in 2017. This type of creativity is the troops next season. Halter is Academy sporting events in the late ‘90s what McBride and Truss both hope will known for his extroverted personality and the ‘Rollercoaster’ custom that entails bring underclassmen and upperclassmen and coming alive at football games. the crowd leaning in every direction together to continue storied traditions “I really miss playing football,” at the whim of an extroverted senior. and build off of what has been done to Halter said. “But being in the student “The roller coaster is a classic,” create the best atmosphere possible. section and cheering on the team senior Andrew McBride said. McBride finds the inspiration to be a makes me feel closer to the game.” McBride is posed to take over as a vocal x-factor due to his trust in the The student section has a famed past leader in this year’s student section. student section to have a profound and a bright future, but as the sun set on “We can add some new chants, impact on the football game. another week of school, the gleam in the but continuing what has already “The student section can change students-turned-impassioned-fans’ eyes been done is how I plan on the course of the game,” McBride and the sweet sound of their screechy leading this season,” McBride said. said. “The players feed off that energy teenaged voices radiates across the McBride’s stance on leading the and that helps their performance.” gridiron resolutely in the here and now.
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September 2018